Apparatus for signaling from one vessel to others.



W. M. HUNT & 1?. W. WOOD. APPARATUS FOR SIGNALING FROM om: VESSEL TO OTHERS.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 5.1911.

' Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

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W. M. HUNT & F. W. WOOD. APPARATUS FOR SIGNALING FROM ONE VESSEL T0 OTHERS.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 5. 1911.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

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W. M. HUNT & F. W. WOOD.

APPARATUS FOR SIGNALING FROM ONE VESSEL T0 OTHERS.

APPLIGA'IION FILED MAY 6, 1911.

1 ,1 17,576. Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

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WALTER M. HUNT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AND FRANK W. WOOD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.; SAIDRWOOD ASSIGNOII, BY IVIESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO CHARLES CORY & son, me, on NEW YORK,

N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR SIGNALING FROM ONE VESSEL TO OTHERS.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, WALTER M. HUNT and FRANK WV. \Voon, citizens of the United States, residing at Philadelphia and New York, in the counties of Philadelphia and New York and States of Pennsylvania and New York, respectively, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Signaling from One Vessel to Others, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to that class of signaling systems, in which a semaphore is given different angular positions corresponding to the different intelligencies it is desired to transmit. These intelligencies of said systems are usually limited in num her, but this is by no means because of the character of the apparatus employed, this limitation of the number of signals being simply arbitrarily determined.

Our invention is particularly adapted for the transmission of signals from one vessel of a squadron to another, and the form disclosed herein is designed more particularly for the signaling of the speed of a vessel to other vessels. While of this particular re lation, and this adaptation stated, it will be apparent, upon an understanding of our invention, that the same may be given many forms without departing from its generic principles, and moreover, that it may be used in any situation in which signals are to be transmitted by means of semaphores.

The semaphore signal system of our invention comprises two semaphore body structures movable in different planes, one of them being movable in a plane at an angle to the plane of movement of the other. When one of these planes is normal to the line of direction of observation, the body structure of the semaphore movable in that plane has its angular position changed by movement, but the projection 01' silhouette of that body in its turn of movement remains substantially unchanged. With reference to the body structure of the other semaphore, and its point of support, its angular position may readily be perceived. By movement of the other semaphore in the plane at an angle to this plane normal to the direction of observation, its change in angular position results in a visible change of its projection or silhouette in the said plane normal to the line of vision. The body structure of this Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 5, 1911.

latter semaphore we make conical and preferably mounted to move in a plane at right angles to the plane normaltoagiven line of vlsion. In the embodiment herein shown and described, the body structures of both semaphores are conical, the one in the plane normal to the line of vision having an unvarying triangular silhouette, while the other in the plane at an angle thereto has a silhouette varying in shape from triangular to circular, passing in its intermediate stages through combined. forms and through elliptical forms. By combinations of these shapes and defined relative positions of the same, a great number of signals may be transmitted.

Our invention comprises also the combination of sets of these semaphore signals on the yard arms of a ship, and means for operating these semaphores from a distant point on the ship.

Further our invention comprises means for operating these signals from a transmitter adapted simultaneously to transmit the same signals over another branch of the system.

Still further our invention comprises means ofmanual control, and means where by the semaphore signals may be operated simultaneously with the signals in the other branch of the system or not as desired, a suitable form of cut-out being provided for this purpose.

In the accompanying drawings we show two embodiments of our invention.

Of the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of the system of our invention applied to a ship, the semaphores being mounted on the yard arms of a mast. Fig. 2 is a fore and aft elevation of the semaphore signals. Fig. 3 is a side view of the same showing particularly the gearing connecting them. Fig. 4; is a side View of the transi'nitler employed at a distant point. Fig. 5 is a front view of the same. Figs. 6 to 12 inclusive, are views of several positions which these semaphores may be given for the transmission of signals.

10 is the body oi. a vessel on which the system is installed, 11 is a mast of the vessel, and 12 and 13 the yard arms which extend transversely of the vessel, the view shown being made looking fore-ancl-aft.

At the outer end of each yard arm is mounted a set of the semaphore signals of our invention designated 14, 15 respectively.

The semaphores comprise conical body structures which may be made of aluminum, wire-mesh or other suitable material. They are mounted on rods 16, by means of spiders 17 of some suitable and light material. The rods 16 are rotatable in planes at right angles to each other, each of them as shown being mounted on a short shaft 18, and the shaft 18 being rotatably mounted in bearings 19 at right angles to each other. These bearings are suitably secured to the ends of the yard arms by any convenient bolts and clamps. The shafts 18 are geared together by bevel gearing 20 and are adapted to be rotated to simultaneously move the conical body structures 14, and 15 of the semaphores by means of flexible cords or cables 21, connecting with a chain 22, passing over a sprocket 23 on the end, of one of the shafts 18. These cables 21 pass through guide sheaves 24, and within conduits 25, and down to the deck of the vessel. The cables 21 connecting with the sets of semaphores at opposite ends of the yard arms are connected together into a single pair of cables 24 both sets of semaphores being thus adapted for simultaneous operation.

On the deck of the vessel is a transmitter 25 which in this embodiment is an instrument of the type adapted to transmit indications of speed over the branch system 26 extending to the engine room. As shown, the transmitter comprises a rigid support 40 to which is secured an arm 41 having a bearing 42 on its upper end for a sleeve 31, on one end of which sleeve is fixed a sprocket wheel 29 that gives motion to a chain 28 connected to the semaphore operating cables 24 which pass around and are given direction by sheaves 27 on the deck. The other end of the sleeve 31 projects beyond the bearing 42 and carries one member 32 of a clutch arranged to rotate withsaid sleeve and slide longitudinally thereon when a hand lever 33 pivotally mounted on the arm 41 is operated. Passing through the sleeve 31 and rotating therein is a shaft 30, one end of which extends into the transmitter to operate the engine room signal, while on its opposite end is fixed the other member 43 of the aforesaid clutch. When the clutch members 32 and 43 are connected as shown in Fig. 4, rotation of the shaft 30 by means of the transmitter operating lever 44 fixed on said shaft will cause the clutch member 32 to turn and of course rotate the sleeve 31 and the sprocket wheel 29 and thus give motion to the semaphore signal. When however, the lever 33 is moved to disengage the clutch members, movement of the handle 44 while continuing to operate the branch signal 26 leading to the engine room, will not affect the semaphore signal as is evident. Moving the handle to disengage the clutch causes a lug 45 on the clutch member 32 to engage a seat 37 in the bearing 42 and lock the sleeve against movement so as to hold the semaphore signal in a fixed position.

A laterally projected bracket 34 on the arm 41 of the transmitter opposite the handle 33, is provided with a plurality of holes 35 through which a pin 36 is projected to pass through a hole in the body of the handle, whereby the handle may be locked in any one of its several positions.

As thus arranged, the system of our invention is operated as follows: Assuming that a number of vessels are steaming in squadron formation, and it is desired to signal the speed from the flag ship to those following, the semaphore branch of the system is clutched in by means of the clutch 32 to operate with the speed indicator transmitter 25 Thereafter, when the speed of this vessel is changed, signals being transmitted over the branch 26 to the engine room, signals are simultaneously displayed from the semaphore branch of the system. Then the transmitter handle 44 is moved to different transmitting positions, its shaft 30 is moved to corresponding definite angular positions, and the cables 24 are operated to move the semaphores 14 and 15 to corresponding angular positions.

By referring to Figs. 6 to 12 it will be seen how clear and relatively well defined are the corresponding indications given by the semaphore branch of the system. The intelligencies chosen for transmission by the several indications of the semaphores as marked in Figs. 6 to 12 are, as will be understood, arbitrarily chosen, and any others may be chosen as well. These, however, are convenient. It will be noted thatthe semaphore 15 when the signals are viewed foreand-aft, F has a silhouette in the plane normal to the line of observation, which is unvarying in shape, being substantially tri-' angular. Its angular position with respect to the semaphore 14 and yard arms, is, however, changed step by step. The semaphore 14, however, which is rotated simultaneously in a plane at right angles to the plane of movement of semaphore 15 has a silhouette which varies as its angular position is changed, the shape being different for each angular position, and this shape in combination with the angular position of the tri angular silhouette of the semaphore 15, gives in each case an indication which can be most readily and unmistakingly differentiated from each other indication.

Lookingbroad-side at the signals, B, it will be seen that the relative positions of the semaphores 14 and 15 are in each case reversed, but in character they are each the same. Therefore, the signals may be read as readily broad-side as fore-and-aft. This feature is of great importance, it beingabsolutely essential to a reliable system that the signals shall be unmistakably the same from all view points.

Having thus fully described our invention, we claim 1. In a signaling apparatus, the combination with a ships telegraph transmitter having an operating shaft projectin through the casing, and an operating handle fixed to said. shaft, of a sleeve rotatable on said shaft, a wheel on said sleeve adapted to operate a distant signal device, a fixed hearing supporting said sleeve, and a clutch between said shaft and said sleeve to connect the same together When moved in one direction and to lock the sleeve against movement when moved in the opposite direction for the purpose of disconnecting the sleeve from said shaft.

2. In a signaling apparatus, the combination with a ships telegraph transmitter having an operating shaft projecting through the casing, and an operatin handle fixed to said shaft, of a sleeve rotata 1e on said shaft, a wheel on said sleeve adapted to operate a distant signal device, a stationary bearing supporting said sleeve, a clutch member fixed on said transmitter shaft, a cooperating clutch member slidable longitudinally on and rotatable with said sleeve, and means on the cooperating clutch member adapted to lock with said stationary bearing and hold the distant signal immovable when the clutch members are disengaged.

3. In a signaling apparatus, the combination with a ships telegraph transmitter having an operating shaft projecting through the casing, and an operating handle fixed on said shaft, of a sleeve rotatable on said shaft, a wheel on said sleeve adapted to operate a distant signal device, a stationary bearing supporting said sleeve, a clutch member fixed on said transmitter shaft, a coiiperating clutch member slidable longitudinally on and rotatable with said sleeve, and a lug on the cooperating clutch member 45 adapted to enter a notch in said stationary bearing and lock the distant signal immovable when the clutch members are disengaged.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WALTER M. HUNT. FRANK W. IVOOD. Witnesses for Walter M. Hunt:

I. Armo'r'r ROLAND Hows. Witnesses for Frank .W. WVood:

FRED E. IZINTZ, DORIS ARNOLD.

Gopies or this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of I'atents, Washington, D. 0. 

